You guys are right, autistic is a stupid fucking word in general, since you can't even use it to describe people who are autistic.
I'm starting to worry that we're getting a bit PC.
Still haven't answered my question. Describing people as autistic
is fine. Implying that autism is a bad thing is a dick move.
Being autistic isn't a BAD thing, but it certainly isn't a desirable thing. Acting like someone autistic, when you aren't, IS a bad thing.
I, like everyone else, have my own pathology. Making every single "problem" people have into a protected class is a fast road to a society of mediocrity. Feeling shame about my downfalls has hurt my feelings, but also pushed me to get past them.
Sorry if I'm coming off as defensive. Just to provide some background, my son is autistic. He has several friends whom are also autistic. They are an extremely friendly group of kids. They are also very bright. So when someone equates autism with stupidity, it tends to upset me.
Completely understandable. My kids are not autistic, but when my younger son was born (keep in mind, I wasn't around for the birth of the older son, or I'd probably have felt the same way) I was terrified he'd be
autistic. My wife has a cousin who is extremely low-functioning autistic...to the point that eventually, he'll have to be institutionalized. Every time my son didn't hit a milestone right on time, I'd start panicking.
If he'd turned out to be autistic, I'd still love him, but I know things would be very different, and much much harder. We need to call a spade a spade. Autism IS a defect. It doesn't mean your son or anyone else with autism is bad, or wrong, but they have issues, just like everyone else, that they and their circles have to learn to function with.
Bottom line is, I'd say anyone has to admit that autism is not a desirable thing to have. No one wishes for it. But, those who have it, or are close to someone who does have to make the choice about how much they're going to let it define them. Pointing out that someone is displaying traits of autism in a pejorative fashion doesn't reflect on your son or his friends unless his condition (not sure what the proper term is here...I don't
think "disease" fits) is what defines him. I'd like to think that isn't how you think of your son, or how he thinks of himself. He is HIM...he is your son. He's not "an autistic," but someone who happens to have autism.
I have no clue if I'm making any sense...I've had super bad insomnia lately, but feel free to question if I'm not being clear.